Security vs. Privacy: a crucial distinction

In technology, security and privacy are often confused, yet they serve different purposes. Security protects data from unauthorized access or tampering. Privacy, by contrast, is about controlling who can access, observe, or use your data.

A system can be secure but not private. For example, Spotify uses DRM to prevent copying its content (security), but any user can stream the same music—there’s no meaningful privacy. Similarly, social media platforms may store data securely, yet freely share it with partners and advertisers once users accept the terms of service. Control over who sees your data is lost.

Mobile devices illustrate this further. Many users equate the lack of privacy on smartphones with a lack of security. In reality, mobile operating systems are built to be secure, but not private. Features like app permissions and sandboxing limit third-party access but don’t restrict the OS itself, which retains full control over your data.

The bottom line: modern mobile systems protect data from external threats, but not from the platforms themselves. This is by design—not a flaw.